Italians in pre-Revolutionary Virginia Slated for April 16

Italians in 18^th Century Virginia is the topic for the Sister City lecture on April 16, at 6:30 in the Downtown branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline Street. It is the third of a series of lectures in A Cultural Quilt: Fredericksburg’s Sister Cities and Their Influence on the Culture of America, jointly sponsored by the sister cities, CRRL and the City of Fredericksburg. The lecture is free.

Noted local historian and raconteur Scott Walker investigates the arrival of Italians in the 1700s, especially through their connection with Thomas Jefferson. Craftsmen and vintners brought skills with a European flair, which contributed to the formation of pre-Revolutionary culture. Their influence continues throughout the centuries.

Walker’s business, Hallowed Ground Tours, provides tours of the historic Fredericksburg region. He is a frequent speaker at venues along the East Coast. He has been active in both of Fredericksburg’s Civil War Roundtables, and served for two decades on the board of the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc.

Walker holds three degrees from the University of Virginia. He retired as an administrator from Stafford County Public Schools, following decades of classroom teaching.

The Cultural Quilt series offers an overview of the contributions of immigrants from Fredericksburg’s sister cities, as well as America’s influence on their countries. A listing of all lectures can be downloaded at www.fred-este.org 

Fredericksburg’s sister cities are:  Fréjus, France (1980), Prince’s Town, Ghana (2006), Schwetzingen, Germany (2010), Este, Italy (2015), and Kathmandu, Nepal (2015). More information about our sister cities may be found at https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/808/Sister-Cities